What is VM sprawl in cloud computing?

VM sprawl refers to the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of virtual machines in a cloud environment, often resulting in a large number of unmanaged, unmonitored, and outdated instances.

Why are over-permissioned VMs a security risk?

Over-permissioned VMs pose a significant risk because they grant more access than necessary for their intended function. If compromised, an attacker can exploit these excessive permissions to access sensitive data or pivot to other systems within the network.

Can VMs in different cloud providers communicate?

Generally, VMs in different cloud providers cannot communicate directly without explicit configuration, such as setting up secure connections between them or using hybrid cloud management platforms. However, within the same cloud provider's network (e.g., within an AWS VPC), VMs can often communicate with each other more freely.

☁️ Cloud Security

23% of Orgs Lack Cloud Visibility: VM Sprawl a Major Risk

Organizations are drowning in virtual machines, and most don't even know it. This unchecked growth, dubbed 'VM sprawl,' is creating massive security blind spots, leaving companies exposed to sophisticated attacks.

CVE Watch Apr 13, 2026 5 min read

A tangled network of glowing virtual lines representing interconnected but unmanaged virtual machines against a dark, abstract background.

⚡ Key Takeaways

A significant majority of organizations (77%) lack comprehensive visibility into their cloud footprint, largely due to uncontrolled virtual machine growth (VM sprawl). 𝕏
Over-permissioned and forgotten VMs are prime targets for attackers, allowing them to gain initial footholds and move laterally within cloud networks. 𝕏
The ease of VM provisioning in the cloud, coupled with a lack of diligent decommissioning and access management, creates critical security gaps that attackers are actively exploiting. 𝕏

Written by

Maya Thompson

Threat intelligence reporter. Tracks CVEs, ransomware groups, and major breach investigations.

#cloud security #cybersecurity threats #identity and access management #virtual machine vulnerabilities #virtual machines #vm sprawl

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Originally reported by WeLiveSecurity (ESET)

⚡ Key Takeaways

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Maya Thompson

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